Mehdi Rabbani (Persian: مهدی ربانی; 1962 – 13 June 2025) was an Iranian brigadier general in the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He served as Deputy Head for Operations of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2016 until his death in 2025, during the start of the Iran–Israel war.

Career

Rabbani began his military career during the Iran–Iraq War as a member of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). From the mid-1990s until 2001, he commanded the Najaf Ashraf Base. He then served as commander of the Samen-ol-A'emeh Base from 2001 to 2004 while also leading the 5th Nasr Division and acting as the senior IRGC commander in Khorasan Province.

Between 2005 and 2012, he served as Deputy Commander of the Sarallah Headquarters, and from 2011 to 2016, he was the Deputy for Operations of the IRGC. From September 2016 until June 2025, he was Deputy for Operations of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Death

Rabbani was killed on 13 June 2025. His funeral, held on 28 June, was set to take place along with those of all the top commanders killed during the Iran–Israel war.

See also

Military offices
Preceded byCommander of the 4th Basij Division 2001–?Succeeded byAli Shadmani
Preceded byNour Ali ShoushtariCommander of the Najaf Ashraf Base Until 2001Succeeded by
Preceded byCommander of the 5th Nasr Division 2001–2004Succeeded byGhodratollah Mansouri
Preceded byHossein HamadaniCommander of the Samen-ol-A'emeh Base 2001–2004
Preceded byDeputy Commander of the Sarallah Headquarters 2005–2012Succeeded byMohsen Kazemeini
Preceded byMohsen KazemeiniDeputy for Operations, IRGC 2011–2016Succeeded byMohammadreza Zahedi
Preceded byAli ShadmaniDeputy for Operations, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2016–2025Vacant